Combined exerciser and tethered projectile game device



Jan. 30, 1968 c H. BURKE 3,366,385

CJHZINED EXERCISER AND TETHERED PROJECTILE GAME DEVICE Filed Feb. 16, 1965 *i INVENTOR. F\ Car/ ar/re CLM United States Patent F 3,366,385 COMBINED EXERCISER AND TETHERED PROJECTILE GAM'E DEVICE Carl H. Burke, R0. Box 327, Johnstown, Ohio 43031 Filed Feb. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 433,054 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-95) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE An exercising game device including a weighted member caused to rotate by gyration of a member held by an operator and which is mounted apart from a scoring board and requires muscular exertion by the operator to bring it close enough to the scoring board to register a score.

This invention relates to exercising devices in general and more particularly to an exercising device which may also be used as a game of skill and thereby encourages persons needing exercise to make use of it.

Most people dislike doing the normal type of exercise recommended to keep one in good physical condition. Even persons who have sufiered some physical handicap and are required to exercise regularly to recondition some part of their body, find it very monotonous and boring to do the usual muscle conditioning and toning exercises which most rehabilitation centers require.

It is for this reason that I have devised an exercising device which requires some element of skill and provides some incentive and reward for its proper use. In turn, the proper use of my exercising device insures use of a good many muscles of the body and in a most beneficial manner.

Most exercising devices in use today provide some weight to he lifted, like bar bells, or thrown, like a medicine ball, or simulate some equipment requiring muscle power, like a bicycle or rowing machine. Seldom is there any accomplishment attached to the use of the equipment beyond the number of pounds lifted or thrown or the miles cycled or rowed. Very little in the way of immediate accomplishment is obtained.

Also, most exercises and most exercising equipment is designed and intended to serve only one purpose; that is, condition only arm muscles, stomach muscles, back muscles or the like. Very seldom is more than one purpose served by the same exercise or exercising piece of equipment.

There are over 600 muscles in the human body. Their sole function is to act in contraction and cause a pulling force which makes movement possible. By acting in pairs they can cause movement in opposite directions and, hence, we have fiexors, which are muscles that bend joints, and extensors, which straighten limbs out again.

Although the movement and action of some muscles is apparent and can be seen, as in the movement of arms and legs, there is also muscle movement involved in the movement of the tongue in speech, the movement of the diaphragm and rib cage in breathing, and even the skin of the face in smiling. Furthermore, all muscle movement is esssentially initiated and signaled by the brain and, hence, the incentive to cause muscle action is of paramount importance.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for exercising and which is also a game of skill and dexterity.

It is an object of this invention to provide an exercising device and game, in combination, which is fun to use, stimulating and beneficial from the stand-point of providing muscle toning exercise.

3,15%,385 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 It is an object of this invention to provide a device which is relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture and may be provided for home use, gymnasiums or commercial establishments as coin operated devices.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device which may be used to exercise many different parts of the body and their muscles, and which requires coordination, intense concentration, and a spirit of determination with appropriate reward for due accomplishments.

To be more specific, this invention requires the use of a device held in the hands and, therefor, requiring the use of hand holding and gripping muscles, forearm and upper arm muscles, and even shoulder muscles. Further, a certain stance is required, and is changeable, so that leg and thigh muscles, stomach, back and chest muscles also are used. In other words, generally speaking, most of the muscles of the human body can be and are called into service in the use of the exercising device of this invention.

The specific objects and advantages to be gained in the practice of this invention will be better understood and appreciated upon a reading of the following specification in regard to a preferred embodiment of the invention and having reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the exercising device of this invention as used in a gymnasium or elsewhere.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the front of the score registering part of the exercising device of this invention with parts broken away to avoid interference with the part that is shown.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the scoring device which is required to be held by the operator and to be manipulated in a certain manner which will be described later.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a detail part of the score registering member of the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is another enlarged cross-sectional view of the score registering part of the invention, though to a different scale than the previous figure.

The exercising device 10 shown by the drawing includes a score board part 12 and a scoring device 14.

The score board part 12 includes a stand or housing member 16 which has a moveable part 18 that is supported between top and bottom panels 20 and 22 as on screw posts 24 or the like which may be used to raise and lower the moveable part 18 to any given height within the stand or housing 16.

A series of paddles or pedal members 26 extend from the front of the moveable part 18 of the score board part 12 and, as later described, are used for registering score in the use of the exercising equipment of this invention. A single reactivating paddle or pedal member 28 also extends from the front of the movable part 18, and over the other pedal members 26, and serves to re-activate, as the name implies, the other pedal members, as will be described.

The front face of the moveable part 18 of the score board includes an illuminated panel 30 behind which is provided electrical switch circuits and the like for indicating or registering score obtained in the use of the equipment being described.

A pair of player positioning arms 32, or some like arrangement, are pivotally engaged to the side of the score board stand or housing 16 and, in use, extend outwardly in front of the score board part 12.

The scoring device 14 is a yoke or forked member which includes a pair of arms 34 and 36 converging together and having a pendulum 38 provided at the apex thereof and pivotal so that it can be rotated by gyrational movement of the yoke or forked member. Pistol-grip handles 37 and 39 are provided on the outer disposed ends of the forked member so that a circular motion, in a vertical plane, of both hands, gripping the pistol-grip handles, and the forearms together, will cause the gyrational movement and rotation of the pendulum mentioned.

The pendulum 38 is shown to include a weight 40 provided on the end of a rod of fixed length. However, the weight may be provided on a flexible wire cable or the like, if desired.

An innovation worthy of note, is that a flat leaf spring 42 may be provided between the arms 34 and 36 of the scoring device 14, and the ends of the arms may be so engaged, that the side arm parts 34 and 36 must be forced toward each other against the resistance of the spring to release the pendulum and enable it to be rotated. As will subsequently be shown, this enables an added muscle toning exercise that can be included with the others possible with this invention.

The scoring device 14 includes hook eyes 44 provided on each of the arms 34 and 36 and which are each engaged by a forwardly extending spring 46 and a rearwardly extending spring 48. The springs engaged to each side of the scoring device 14 are in turn engaged forwardly and rearwardly on the player positioning arms 32. In this manner the scoring device 14 is supported by the springs between the player positioning arms 32 and in a manner which required that the rearwardly extending springs 48 be stretched in the effort to locate the scoring device 14 close enough to the score board part 12 for purposes next to be described.

Refering now to FIGURE 1, a person wishing to use the equipment of this invention takes the position of the player 59 with his shoulders placed against shoulder grips 52 that are provided on the ends of the player-positioning arms 32. In order to assure that the player positioning arms 32 are always in parallel relation, a cross-bar 54 may be provided between the arms 32 that are connected to the score board part. The principal purpose of the positioning or spacing arms 32 is to assure that the player 50 will be held at a fixed distance from the score board part 12.

Before describing some of the detail features of the embodiment shown by the drawings, it may be well to discuss the general operation of the equipment.

In the use of the exercising equipment 10, the scoring device 14 is held by the player 50 and is moved forward against the resistance of the rearwardly extending springs 48. As this is done, the scoring device 14 is put into a gyrating movement in order to cause the pendulum 38 to swing around and around. As will be appreciated, the rotation may be as fast or slow as the operator chooses to gyrate the scoring device 14.

When the flat leaf spring 42 is used, it will be apparent that the handles must be held together or the pendulum can not be swung in a complete circle.

With the pendulum swinging around and around, the scoring device 14 is extended sufiiciently forward, against the resistance of the rearwardly extending springs 48 to hopefully swing down and hit the pedal members 26 successively, one after the other. After all of the lower disposed pedal members 26 have been knocked down, the re-activating pedal member 28 may be struck to reset the series of pedal members 26 and enable more score to be accumulated.

Now, as to some of the detail features:

FIGURE 4 shows one of the pedal members 26. It includes a pivoted arm 66 having the paddle part at the outwardly extended end thereof and having the other end attracted to a magnet 62. In a simple device, a permanent magnet 62 may be used, and in a more expensive or commercial piece of equipment, an electromagnet might be used. In either event, such as the magnets 62 will hold the pedal members 26 horizontally disposed until they are hit by the pendulum 38 and caused to pivot so that the inner disposed end is removed from the magnetic field.

The arrangement for the re-activating pedal 28 is much the same as for the other pedal members 26. It also includes an arm part 70 which is pivotable and 'has its interdisposed end arran ed for engagement with a magnet 72 which may be of either the permanent or electromagnetic type, as mentioned. In addition, the re-activating pedal member 28 is provided with a connecting link 74 which is engaged to another pivotal link 76 having a cross bar 78, or like means, which will extend across all of the pedal members 26 and is effective in resetting them into engagement with the magnetic means 62 which normally holds them erect.

Although the magnetic means shown is ideally suited for this equipment, it will be appreciated that other means might be employed. Similarly, while each of the arms has been discussed as being independent of the other, it will be appreciated that some inter-locking means might be provided to positively require that the different pedal members 26 be knocked down consecutively in registering a score on this equipment. This is encompassed within the scope and spirit of the invention although it is not discussed in great detail.

In the present embodiment of this invention, the rearwardly extending springs 48, which are connected to the scoring device 14, are shown as connected to the shoulder grip parts 52 on the player positioning arms 32. In such an arrangement, it will be appreciated that in extending the shoulder grip parts 52, the person using the exercising device will be both located further from the score board part 12 and have to overcome a greater tension in the springs 48 in order to position the scoring device 14 close enough to the score board part 12 to accomplish the desired objective. With this arrangement, a person with shorter arms and a person with longer arms may be more equally matched, one against the other. Also, in individual use, there is added challenge in being able to obtain a high score with maximum tension in the springs 48 and the full extension of the player positioning arms 32.

The uses of the excercising device disclosed are endless.

The bent knee stance shown is the most common. In such position, the lower leg and thigh muscles, as well as the forearm and upper arm muscles, receive maximum use.

With the feet together and both knees bent, in a crouched position, the stomach muscles are also used. The stomach muscles are also placed in use with the feet together, legs straight and body bent forward.

Positions which use first one foot forward and then the other will strengthen the abdominal and stomach muscles in the effort made in twisting the body to one side or the other.

Although not previously mentioned, it will be appreciated that a simplified scoring device which may be held in one hand may be provided and still require the gyrational movement of the device shown.

It will also be appreciated that marks may be provided on the floor in front of the score board part 12, at a distance therefrom, for positioning of the feet of the player and which will enable the different results mentioned to be obtained. In addition, proficiency marks, such as fair close to the score board, good further away, excellent further away and expert still further back, could beused.

The player positioning arms 32 may be made so that Other means of making the equipment coin operated might be provided with the scoring device 14, itself.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and variations in the present invention are foreseeable. Accordingly, although a preferred embodiment has been specifically shown and described in detail herein, it will be appreciated that this has been done to illustrate the scope of the present invention and Without intent to unnecessarily limit the invention thereto in any regard. Such improvements, modifications and alterations as come to mind and are within the spirit of this invention and are not specifically excluded by the language of the hereinafter appended claims are to be considered as inclusive thereunder.

I claim:

1. An exercising device, comprising:

a scoreboard having means provided thereon engageable by a scoring member for registering a score on said board,

a scoring member including a weighted pivotal member set in motion and caused to rotate by gyrational movement of said scoring member,

and spacing means for disposing said scoring member a distance removed from said scoreboard and means operatively connecting said scoring member to said spacing means and requiring muscular exertion by an operator of said scoring member during the gyration thereof for disposing said pivotal member close enough for engagement with the score registering means on said scoreboard.

2. The exercising device of claim 1,

said score registering means including a plurality of pivotally mounted and relatively spaced pedal members having magnetic means for retaining them erect,

and separate reset means collectively operative of said pedal members and disposed for actuation by said scoring device in the same manner as said pedal members are knocked down.

3. The exercising device of claim 1,

said scoring member including a forked member and said pivotal member being a rod pivotally mounted at the apex thereof,

said forked member having pistol-grip handles at the extended ends thereof and said rod and weight being rotational therebetween.

4. The exercising device of claim 1,

said spacing means restraining said operator and requiring the scoring member to be held at arms length and strained towards said scoreboard.

5. The exercising device of claim 1,

said spacing means including resilient means mounting said scoring member relative to and apart from said scoreboard for creating a resistive force which must be overcome to move said scoring member close enough to said scoreboard for registering a score thereon.

6. The exercising device of claim 1,

said spacing means including a member inhibiting the advance of the operator holding said scoring member relative to the scoreboard and resilient means mounting said scoring member thereto and required to be overcome in gyrating said scoring member and moving it close enough to said scoreboard for registering a score thereon.

7. The exercising device of claim 6,

said scoring member including a forked member and said pivotal member including a rod pivotally mounted at the apex thereof and having a weight at the free end thereof.

said forked member having pistol grip handles at the extended ends thereof and said Weighted rod being rotational therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,098,462 2/1914 Schuler et a1. 27398 1,183,368 5/1916 Gafner 27257 FOREIGN PATENTS 137,193 1920 Great Britain.

40 ANTON o. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner. 

